Improvement in spice-chests



J. H. PREATER.

SPICE-CHEST.

Patented 1090.12, 1876.

THE GRAPHIC CO.N.

UNITED JAMES H. PBEATER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPlCE-CHESTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [85,258, dated December 12, 1876; application tiled October 26, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES H. PREATER, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Spice-Chests, of which the following is a specification:

This chestis intended to hold spices, mustard, pepper, &c., in a compact form, free from atmospheric influence, and easily accessible.

The spice, in either a ground or whole condition, is contained in a receptacle with a tight-fitting lid. At the bottom is a projecting segmental front, also forming a cut-off to prevent the material running forward too far when the front is thrown up to give access for removing such material by a scoop or spoon.

\Vith such ground materials as mustard and ginger, I provide a movable supply-plate and side agitators to loosen and bring forward such material into a convenient position for removal, because some of these ground materials are liable to become packed in the receptacle, so that they do not fall easily to the bottom.

In the drawing, Figure l is a plan partially in section of said cabinet or chest, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same.

It is usual to make these spice-holders in groups of several, side by side, to form a chest or cabinet. I have shown in Fig. 1 six such holders. There, however, may be more or less; but as all are alike, except in the particulars mentioned, the following description gives the details of the construction of each.

The holder is made of the sides a, back I), and front 0, and sliding cover It, and where several holders or boxes are made together, as shown, there may be an ornamental glass or'plate inserted at (1 into sheet-metal grooves.

The front 0 does not extend to the bottom plate 0 hence there is an opening at which the swinging segmental front f is introduced. The same is made with side plates 9, fastened to the pivots '5, upon which such segmental front swings; and the bottom 6 is extended forward and turned up as a lip for the lower edge of f to close against, and the sides a of the holder are extended forward so that the edges of the segmental frontf swing between them.

A strip of perforated metal, h, with felt or fibrous material sewed to its under surface, is placed across the spice-holder inside the front 0, and above the segmental front f, so as to close the spice-holder at this place and form a cutoff to prevent the spice adhering to the top of the segmental front. When this front is raised and swung back, access is given to the spice upon the bottom 0, and the inner part of the segmental front forms a cut-off to prevent too much material running forward to the place of removal.

Most of the holders will be made in this manner, and with such there will generally be an inclined plate (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2) at l, to throw the material forward as it descends, but with materials, such as ground mustard, that do not run down freely a supply-plate, m, is added, the same sliding in guides upon the bottom 0, and there are agitators, 74, attached at one end touthe supplyplate m, and at the other end to the back edge of the segmental front f, for the twofold purpose of giving a back-and-forth motion to the plate m as the segment 9 is moved. and agitating the mustard or other material in the box or holder as they move up and down in the lower part of such material.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with spice holder or box, the segmental front f, side plates 9, pivots i, and cut-off h, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, in the spice holder or box, of the swinging segmental front f, supply-plate m, and agitators a, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 18th day of October, A.

J. H. PBEATER.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINGKNEY, OHAs. E. SMITH. 

